Geranium plant named Fisrina

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium named Fisrina, particularly characterized by the combined features of rose red semi-double flowers, medium green leaves with narrow zonation, vigorous growth in combination with comparatively short internodes, good branching characteristics, rich flower production and good heat resistance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum L'Hert, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Fisrina.

Fisrina is a product of planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new ivy geranium cultivars with red flower color,semi-double flower form, good branching and rich flowering.

Fisrina was originated from a hybridization made by the inventorIngeborg Schumann in a controlled breeding program in Galdar, GranCanaria, Spain in 1985. Fisrina is the result of a selfing of an unnamedhybrid seedling derived from a cross between the female parent,identified as No. 418 from the Leuenberger Collection and having redsemi-double flowers, vigorous growth, and strong zonation, and the maleparent Pelenberger, characterized by rose red single flowers with narrowpetals, vigorous growth, and foliage without zonation.

Fisrina was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Ingeborg Schumann in spring 1986 in acontrolled environment in Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Fisrina was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February1987 in a controlled environment in Hillscheid, Federal Republic ofGermany by, or under the supervision of, Ingebor Schumann.

Horticultural examination of rooted cuttings initiated in May 1987 andcontinuing thereafter has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for Fisrina are firmly fixed and areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Fisrina has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length,without, however, any variance in the genotype. The followingobservations measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown inHillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany under greenhouse conditionswhich approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Fisrina, which in combination distinguishthis geranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Semi-double flowers rose red in color

2. Weak purple veins on upper petals

3. Medium to late flower response

4. Medium green foliage

5. Comparatively small leaves with narrow zonation

6. Vigorous growth

7. Well branched, bushy plant habit

8. Prolific flower production

9. Good heat resistance

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Fisrina is Rigi. Reference is made to attachedChart A which compares certain characteristics of Fisrina to those samecharacteristics of Rigi. In general comparison to Rigi, Fisrina has amore reddish shade of flower color, more but slightly smaller leavessmaller flowers and umbels, but much higher flower production and morevigorous growth. Purple markings on petals as well as zonation on leavesare somewhat weaker in Fisrina than in Rigi.

The accompanying color photographic drawing in a side elevational viewshowing typical flower and foliage characteristics of a comparativelyyoung Fisrina, with colors being as true as possible with illustrationsof this type.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedindoors from flowers taken from plants grown outdoors in June atHillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany.

Classification:

Botanical.--A hybrid of the species Pelargonium peltatum L'Hert.

Commercial.--Ivy geranium, cv. Fisrina.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Umbel:

Average diameter.--97 mm.

Average depth.--55 mm.

Peduncle length.--120 mm.

Pedicel length.--27 mm.

Pedicel color.--Green, no anthocyanin.

Number of flowers per umbel.--7.3.

B. Corolla:

Average diameter.--50 mm.

Form.--Semi-double.

Number of Petals.--10-14.

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Rose red.

Color of upper surface of petals (when stamens are mature).--R.H.S. maincolor between 52A and 57A with slight fading on maturity; there is weakmarking consisting of two darker red veins on the surface.

Color of lower surface of petals.--R.H.S. 57B-C.

Color of lower surface.--R.H.S. between 52C and 57C with slight fadingon maturity.

Sepals.--Green, no anthocyanin.

Petaloids.--There is average of two or three small petals with a stamenon top; petaloids are essentially transformed anthers.

C. Bud:

Shape.--Elongated.

Color (sepals).--Light green.

Color (tips of petals).--Red.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--6-8 anthers, most of these fertile with orange-yellowpollen.

Gynoecium.--5-6 lobed stigma, pink.

E. Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Federal Republic ofGermany, in 1989 45% of plants with at least 1 flower opened 11 weeksafter planting of unrooted cuttings.

F. Outdoor flower production: The flower count in 1989 in Hillscheid,Federal Republic of Germany indicated between 210 and 220 flowers perplant for May through September observation period.

G. Durability: Good heat resistance, Good rain resistance.

H. Seed production: Fisrina is fertile and produces seed afterpollination, but sets only a few seeds spontaneously.

PLANT

A. Foliage:

Form.--Ivy shaped.

Margin.--Entire.

Color (upper surface).--Medium green, approximately R.H.S. 137C-D.

Color (zonation).--Brown narrow ring-shaped zonation, approximatelyR.H.S. 166A.

Tolerance of botrytis.--Medium to good.

Size.--Normal to slightly smaller relative to average size for thisspecies.

B. General appearance and form:

Internode length.--3.0-4.5 cm.

Branching pattern.--7.0 branches per plant (after 12 weeks)self-pinching.

Length of branches.--80 cm in August.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                                      FISRINA      RIGI                                               ______________________________________                                        Flower color    rose red between                                                                             pink 57C                                                       52A and 57B                                                   Diameter of umbel                                                                             9-9.5 cm       10.5-11.5                                      Plant habit     bushy          loose                                          Branching habit 7.0            4.2                                            (number of branches                                                           per plant                                                                     Beginning of    45%            75%                                            flowering (Percent                                                            of flowering plants                                                           after 11 weeks                                                                Number of umbels                                                                              215            71                                             ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named Fisrina,as illustrated and described.